Scale having a display and operating unit

ABSTRACT

A scale ( 1 ) having a scale housing ( 3 ) serving to house the weighing mechanism and the weighing electronics, which stands on a support base on at least three support points ( 5,5 ′), is designed to be connectable to and disconnectable from a display and operating unit ( 6 ). A connection element ( 9 ) is provided to produce a mechanical coupling between the scale ( 1 ) and the display and operating unit ( 6 ), which can be attached to the bottom side of the scale housing ( 3 ) and is designed to be supported on at least two support points ( 5 ) of the scale ( 1 ) and can be engaged in a self-locating way in a third point on the bottom side of the scale housing ( 3 ).

The present invention relates to a scale having a scale housing servingfor housing the scale mechanism and the scale electronics, which standson a support base on at least three support points, and having a displayand operating unit, which is designed to be connectable to anddisconnectable from the scale, a connection element being provided forproducing a mechanical connection between the scale and the display andoperating unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Such scales are preferably used in laboratories, at production sites, orin warehouses. In these locations, the available work space isfrequently limited and therefore one of the requirements for such ascale is its flexibility with regard to its setup location and thepositioning of the scale housing and the display and operating unit inrelation to each other.

Scales whose scale housing can be connected to their display andoperating unit or can be positioned separately therefrom at the workspace are known in the related art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,633,007B1 describes a scale in which the display and operating unit may beplaced both adjacent to a housing and also at a distance therefrom. Tostore excess length of the connection cable between the scale housingand the display and operating unit, a shaft is positioned on the floorof the housing, in which the cable is freely movable as it is pulled outand pushed in. The display and operating unit is guided on the housingof the scale by using an adapter. In this case, the scale housing andthe display and operating unit stand on the support base independentlyfrom one another.

Scales are known which are optimized with regard to a low overallheight, and in which the height of the free space located between thesupport base, such as the working table, and the bottom of the scalehousing is only a few millimeters, so that an arrangement of a shaftdescribed above can not be realized. The attachability and easyremovability of the display and operating unit to and from the housingis particularly difficult if the requirement exists of being able toplace the display and operating unit both adjacent to the housing andalso at a distance therefrom.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a stableanchoring of the display and operating unit, when it is placed directlyon the scale, particularly a scale of low construction, in which scalethe display and operating unit can be placed both adjacent to the scaleand also at a distance therefrom, wherein connecting parts neitherproject from the scale nor from the display and operating unit when thedisplay and operating unit is placed at a distance from the scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by the features of the appended claims. A scalehaving a scale housing serving to house the scale mechanism and thescale electronics, which stands on a support base on at least threesupport points, is designed to be connectable to and disconnectable froma display and operating unit. A connection element is provided forproducing a mechanical coupling between the scale and the display andoperating unit, wherein the connection element is attachable to thebottom of the scale housing and is designed to be supported on at leasttwo support points of the scale and can be engaged in a self-locatingway in a third point on the bottom of the scale housing.

By a self-centering engaging coupling of the connection element on thebottom side of the scale housing, the display and operating unit can beattached rapidly and easily to the scale on the scale housing andremoved therefrom without the use of any tools. For this purpose, acoupling part is positioned on the bottom of the scale housing, in whichthe connection element is able to engage in a self-centering way. If thedisplay and operating unit is placed directly on the scale, theconnection element is positioned below this unit in such a way thatpreferably no parts project. In addition, if the display and operatingunit is positioned away from the scale, the connection element isremovable, so that no parts project on the scale even in this situation.Furthermore, the scale, the display and operating unit and theconnection element are easy to clean.

If the display and operating unit is placed directly on the scale, thescale may be lifted together with this unit in a stable way, since bothparts are supported by the connection element. Therefore, the supportbase on which the scale stands can be cleaned without problems.

In a preferred embodiment of the scale, the coupling part is attachedclose to a third support point on the bottom side of the scale housing.

In an particularly advantageous embodiment, the coupling part has theshape of two isoceles triangles which are connected to one another, thefirst triangle representing an acute-angled triangle and the secondtriangle, which faces towards the connection element in the installedstate, representing an obtuse-angled triangle.

The coupling part preferably comprises elastic catch elements havingbulges which are designed to engage in recesses of the connectionelement.

For a scale having a low construction, it is advantageous if theconnection element is designed to be very flat and, in particular, ismanufactured from an approximately 0.5 to 2 mm thick sheet of aluminiumor sheet of steel or is manufactured as a plastic part.

In an advantageous refinement, each of the two support points comprise awheel for the adjustment to level the scale, wherein the connectionelement is supported on the top of the particular wheel. In addition,the scale according to the present invention is designed in such a waythat the display and operating unit and the scale stand on the supportbase independently from one another, so that the scale may be levelledindependently from the display and operating unit.

The connection element is particularly formed in such a way that, in itsinstalled state, it is oriented parallel to the support base of thescale approximately up to the area of the support points and then it isbent by an angle α in the direction of the coupling part, whereby asimple engagement of the connection element into the coupling part maybe reached.

A channel for guiding unneeded cable length of the connection cablebetween the scale and the display and operating unit is provided on thebottom side of the scale housing. In addition, the scale housing hasrecessed grips on both sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The scale according to the present invention is described in detail inthe following on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in thedrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional illustration of the scale having adisplay and operating unit;

FIG. 2 shows a view from the front side of the scale with a connectionelement installed;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the scale having an installed connectionelement, without a display and operating unit;

FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional illustration of the scale from belowwith a connection element installed; and

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional illustration of the coupling part andthe connection element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a scale 1 as it may be placed in a laboratory, in aproduction area, or in a warehouse, for example. The scale 1 has a scalehousing 3, in which the weighing cell and the weighing electronics (notshown here) are placed. The weighing pan 2 is connected to the weighingcell. In the example shown in the figure it extends over nearly theentire dimensions of the scale housing 3. The scale 1 stands on threefeet or support points 5, respectively, of which only one is visible inthe figure. A display and operating unit 6 is connected to the scale 1.It has a display screen 7 and buttons for operating the scale. Thisdisplay and operating unit 6 can also be placed at a distance from thescale 1. According to the present invention, the display and operatingunit 6 is removed from the scale 1 and/or attached to the scale 1without the use of any tools. Therefore there is a connection element(see FIGS. 2 through 5), which provides a stable coupling of the displayand operating unit 6 to the scale housing 3 and, when it is attached tothe scale 1, remains in an installed position. If the display andoperating unit 6 is to be placed at a distance from the scale 1, theconnection element 9 is also be able to be removed, since it isconnectable to the scale housing 3 solely by using a catch element, asis described in detail below.

The connection between the scale 1 and the display and operating unit 6is formed in such a way that both, i.e., the display and operating unit6 as well as the scale 1, always stand separately from each other ontheir support base, whereby the scale 1 can be levelled independentlyfrom the display and operating unit 6, for example.

In FIG. 2, which shows a front view of the scale 1, the display andoperating unit 6 has been removed. However, the connection element 9 isstill in its installed position, so that it clearly can be seen how itis supported on the two front feet 5. These feet 5 are adjustable inheight for levelling. They have a central support bolt 10, which isenclosed by a flat knurled wheel 11. The knurling on the wheel 11 servesfor a better handling during adjustment of the feet 5, the support bolt10 being able to be screwed into and/or out of a thread affixed to thescale housing 3. The flat design of the wheel 11 is particularlyadvantageous for the support of the connection element 9. In addition,the position of the connection element 9 in relation to the support baseis not changed during the levelling procedure.

The scale 1 has a low construction and there is very little space leftbetween its bottom side and the support base, such as a table, on whichthe scale stands. Therefore, the connection element 9 is designed to bevery flat. It is preferably manufactured from an approximately 0.5 to 2mm thick sheet of aluminium or sheet of steel, other materials,particularly plastic, also being able to be used, of course. Theconnection element 9 has two approximately horizontally orientedcantilevers 22, which, in the installed state, are offset upwardly inthe area of the feet 5, and which are formed in such a way that they canbe supported on the surface of the particular wheel 11 of the two feet5, so that the connection element 9 is guided. The third foot or supportpoint 5′ can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the scale 1 with an installed connectionelement 9. The part of the connection element 9 which carries thedisplay and operating unit 6 has a lateral edge 12, which is designed toengage in a depression on the bottom side of the display and operatingunit 6, whereby this unit is guided. The connection element 9 is formedin such a way that in the installed state it runs parallel to thesupport surface or the support base of the scale 1, respectively, or itpossibly rests on the support surface approximately up to the area ofthe feet 5. In its further course illustrated from left to right in thefigure the connection element 9 is bent upwardly by an angle α, so thatan engagement in a coupling part 13 is possible. As will be described inmore detail below with respect to FIG. 5, this coupling part 13 isdesigned for self-locating and self-centering insertion of theconnection element 9 and allows a catch connection with the connectionelement 9. The coupling part 13 is positioned close to the third supportpoint 5′ of the scale 1 and thus ensures stable positioning, both of thescale 1 and of the display and operating unit 6.

FIG. 4 shows a inclined perspective view of the scale 1 from below.Here, the connection element 9 is inserted through an opening 30 intothe coupling part 13, which is connected solidly to the bottom side ofthe scale housing 3, for example by a screw 14. A guide groove 16 isalso positioned on the bottom side for guiding the unnecessary cablelength of a connection cable (not shown here) between the scale 1 andthe display and operating unit 6 in case that the display and operatingunit 6 is installed directly on the scale 1. The cable has access to theinterior of the scale housing 3 via a shaft 17.

The central area 15 of the bottom side of the scale housing 3 isdesigned to protrude relative to the edge region 25. The scale housing 3also comprises recessed grips 24 on both sides, so that, when liftingthe scale 1 from the support base, easier grasping is made possible.

The third support point or foot 5′, respectively, that is attached tothe central area 15 of the bottom side of the scale housing 3, has theshape of a rib having a triangular profile, here. Of course, otherembodiments for the support point 5′ are also conceivable, for examplean embodiment as a simple pin.

The connection element 9, which is shown in the figure in its stateinserted and engaged in the coupling part 13, has an approximatelytriangular shape in its area 4 running from the area of its support andguiding on the top side of the particular wheel 11 of the feet 5 to thearea inserted into the coupling part 13. In the opposite direction,i.e., up to the area 8, that is designed to engage in the depressionprovided on the display and operating unit 6 by using the edges 12, theconnection element 9 is narrowed somewhat.

The insertion of the connection element 9 into the coupling part 13 isperformed in a self-centering way by the special design of these twoparts. This may be seen particularly well in FIG. 5, which shows theconnection element 9 and the coupling part 13 in a perspective view.FIG. 5 illustrates a view of the areas of the connection element 9 andthe coupling part 13 which, when positioned on the scale housing 3 forthe intended use, face towards the bottom of the housing.

The area of the coupling part 13 approximately has the shape of twoisoceles triangles connected to one another, the triangle 18 facingtowards the attachment representing an acute-angled triangle and thetriangle 19 facing towards the connection element 9 in the installedstate representing an obtuse-angled triangle. The attachment to thescale housing 3 is, for example, performed via a screw connection byusing an eye 20. A leg, which is only connected to the coupling part inthe area of the eye and can therefore act as a spring 21, is positionedadjoining the eye 20 on each side. Each of these legs 21 has a bulge 26on its inside to engage the connection element 9. In order to keep theface of the coupling part 13 at a distance from the scale housing 1 inthe installed state and to form an opening 30 in the insertion directionof the connection element 9, the coupling part 13 has a border 27 whichlaterally delimits the obtuse-angled triangle 19. This border 27 alsoextends into the area tapering towards the acute-angled triangle 18, upto the end of the two legs 21. The border 27, whose height correspondsto that of the two legs 21, is particularly used for guiding aninserting connection part 9, however, and centers it in a position inwhich it is able to engage. The coupling part 13 is preferablymanufactured from a polymer material, but it may also be made of anothermaterial having elastic properties, such as metal.

At its tip 28, the connection element 9 is formed in such a way that itcomes to rest precisely fitting into the triangle 18 when the connectionelement 9 is engaged in the coupling part 13. Recesses 29 are providedin which the bulges 26 of the two legs 21 engage.

During the self-centering attachment of the connection element 9 to thescale 1, it is particularly important now that the connection element 9has an upwardly-directed area 4, by which the connection element 9 isable to slide into the opening 30 of the coupling part 13 in aself-locating way without problems.

On its opposite end, the connection element 9, as is illustrated in FIG.5, is designed somewhat differently from that of FIG. 4. In this case,the part located below the display and operating unit 6 in the installedstate has an extension 31 with protrusions 23, which ensure a morestable contact of the display and operating unit 6 on the connectionelement 9.

The embodiment described represents a scale whose weighing pan is freelyaccessible for the placement of the product to be weighed, and whosedimensions extend over the entire area of the scale housing. However,scales which have a draft shield which encloses a weighing chamber,within which a weighing pan having smaller dimensions than thatdescribed above is positioned, are also to be considered in the scope ofthe present invention.

1. A scale having a scale housing serving to house a weighing mechanismand the weighing electronics, the scale housing standing on a supportbase on at least three support points, the scale comprising: a displayand operating unit; and a connection element for mechanically couplingthe scale and the display and operating unit, the connection elementbeing attachable to the bottom of the scale housing, and designed to besupported on a first two of the at least three support points andengagable in a self-locating way in a location on the bottom side of thescale housing.
 2. The scale according to claim 1, wherein: theconnection element is designed for attachment and removal of the displayand operating unit to and from the scale housing in a tool-free manner.3. The scale according to claim 2, further comprising: a coupling part,positioned on the bottom side of the scale housing, for the connectionelement to engage in a self-centering way.
 4. The scale according toclaim 3, wherein: the coupling part is positioned on the scale housingclose to the third support point.
 5. The scale according to claim 4,wherein: the coupling part has the form of two isosceles triangles whichare connected to each other, the first triangle representing anacute-angled isosceles triangle and the second triangle, that facestowards the connection element in the installed state, representing anobtuse-angled isosceles triangle.
 6. The scale according to claim 5,wherein: the coupling part comprises elastic catch elements havingbulges, which are formed to engage in recesses of the connectionelement.
 7. The scale according to claim 6, wherein: the connectionelement is designed to be very flat, and is manufactured from one of: anapproximately 0.5 to 2 mm thick sheet of aluminium, a sheet of steel,and plastic.
 8. The scale according to claim 7, wherein: each of thefirst two support points that support the connection element comprise awheel for adjusting the level of the scale, the connection element beingsupported on the top of the wheel.
 9. The scale according to claim 8,wherein: the connection element is designed to be oriented in theinstalled state parallel to the support base up to approximately thearea of the first two support points and subsequently is bent by anangle α in the direction towards the coupling part in order to providesimple engagement with the coupling part.
 10. The scale according toclaim 9, wherein: the display and operating unit and the scale standindependently from each other on the support base.
 11. The scaleaccording to claim 10, further comprising: a guide groove on the bottomside of the scale housing to guide an unneeded length of a connectioncable between the scale and the display and operating unit.
 12. Thescale according to claim 11, further comprising: recessed grips on bothsides of the scale housing.
 13. The scale according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a coupling part, positioned on the bottom side of the scalehousing, for the connection element to engage in a self-centering way.14. The scale according to claim 13, wherein: the coupling part ispositioned on the scale housing close to the third support point. 15.The scale according to claim 3, wherein: the coupling part has the formof two isosceles triangles which are connected to each other, the firsttriangle representing an acute-angled isosceles triangle and the secondtriangle, that faces towards the connection element in the installedstate, representing an obtuse-angled isosceles triangle.
 16. The scaleaccording to claim 3, wherein: the coupling part comprises elastic catchelements having bulges, which are formed to engage in recesses of theconnection element.
 17. The scale according to claim 1, wherein: theconnection element is designed to be very flat, and is manufactured fromone of: an approximately 0.5 to 2 mm thick sheet of aluminium, a sheetof steel, and plastic.
 18. The scale according to claim 1, wherein: eachof the first two support points that support the connection elementcomprise a wheel for adjusting the level of the scale, the connectionelement being supported on the top of the wheel.
 19. The scale accordingto claim 1, wherein: the connection element is designed to be orientedin the installed state parallel to the support base up to approximatelythe area of the first two support points and subsequently is bent by anangle α in the direction towards the coupling part, in order to providesimple engagement with the coupling part.
 20. The scale according toclaim 1, wherein: the display and operating unit and the scale standindependently from each other on the support base.